Minutes:
Seven public questions were submitted. The questions are attached at Appendix A to these minutes and summaries of each item and responses are provided below.
Question from Dr. Sharon Hancock.
Dr Sharon Hancock had submitted a question on test, trace and Isolate and the support contacts were being offered in the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire (CSW) beacon area.
Dr Shade Agboola, Director of Public Health (DPH) provided a verbal response. Strong links had been established with the voluntary and community sector and she spoke about the support being provided to those who needed to isolate, which would continue to be built upon. This included practical support e.g. with shopping. There were plans for an engagement session with neighbourhood level groups and making best use of community development workers was also touched on. Further details would be provided later in the meeting on the outbreak control plan. Specific work was being undertaken with homeless people and victims of domestic abuse.
Question from Councillor Jacky Chambers
The DPH was asked to report on progress made so far in making test data from the national test and trace system (pillar two) available to local public health teams; how quickly test results were being returned, and whether or not this information had been used to identify and investigate recent outbreaks in the county.
Shade Agboola responded that significant progress had been made. There was direct access to the pillar two data at both the county and district/borough level. She spoke about test turnaround times which were between one to three days for pillar two tests. The data on incidents/ outbreaks was provided in a variety of ways, including through Public Health England (PHE), the national test and trace service (NT&T) and in relation to an outbreak amongst police officers, from the police themselves. It was expected that the NT&T service would report more data as it gained momentum. Reference was also made to the good working relationships with schools, which ensured that early notification was received, often before the NT&T service reported cases.
Question from Professor Nick Spencer
Professor Spencer spoke of plans amongst retired GPs, public health and community doctors and nurses, to establish a locally based contact tracing initiative, sensitive to and embedded within local communities. He asked if the DPH would meet with them to discuss how their expertise could be deployed to contribute.
Dr Agboola confirmed she was happy to meet with Professor Spencer and colleagues. She described the local role in the test and trace programme, managing complex cases and compared this to the role of the NT&T service in dealing with non-complex contact tracing. Local authorities had a brief from national government which included the development of outbreak control plans. To date existing resources had been utilised to respond to outbreaks, working in conjunction with PHE. The additional government funding may need to be used to provide increased capacity, especially with the easing of lockdown measures. Dr Agboola spoke of the local Health Protection Board, which was meeting weekly and confirmed the composition of this board.
Questions from Professor Anna Pollert
Professor Pollert submitted a question about CCG deficits, but acknowledged that this could be deferred, as it was not Covid related. She asked if the Committee wouldinvestigate how the CCGs would deal with these deficits.
Professor Pollert asked a second question which concerned Covid19 and thegovernment system for control of it. She asked the DPH, supported by the committee to do all in their power to work with local health professionals and volunteers to reach, test, trace and isolate local residents with a Covid19 infection. She reiterated the points from Professor Spencer, acknowledging that the DPH had agreed to a meeting with individuals seeking to establish a locally based contact tracing initiative.
Dr Agboola confirmed she was happy to explore working with local health professionals and volunteers, also the local responsibilities for responding to complex cases and producing the Outbreak Control Plan. There had not to date been a requirement for large scale contact tracing. This could change as lockdown measures eased.
Question from Dr Gordon Avery
Dr Avery had submitted a question asking whether there was a way people could help to make a full local contribution to the management of the test, trace and isolate scheme in Warwickshire.
Dr Agboola acknowledged that this was similar to previous questions and reiterated the points made including the willingness to meet with local health professionals and volunteers.
Question from Mr Martin Drew
Mr Drew asked if the DPH and the committee would investigate how GPs could be brought into the Covid19 response making comparison to notifiable diseases. He also asked if Warwickshire GPs were receiving Covid19 antigen test results and if not, what the DPH could do about this.
Dr Agboola responded that the involvement of local GPs would be investigated. One suggestion made was use of local GPs to increase local testing capacity. An options appraisal for testing was currently in production. It was not yet clear if Warwickshire GPs were receiving Covid19 antigen test results. However, it was understood that this was planned. She made an offer to discuss how best GPs could be involved whilst recognising the increasing demands on primary care.
The Chair noted that a further question had been received without adequate notice being provided. This had been forwarded to officers for consideration. He thanked the public participants for their questions.